Coincidence or Providence?
In the sleepy Nebraska town of Beatrice that Wednesday evening, March 1, 1950, seemed like any other evening. On this late winter day, folks were going about their normal routine. For some of the Beatrice population, the routine included Wednesday choir practice. Normally, the earliest arriver for choir practice was its director, Mrs. Paul. After all, you can’t start things without the choir director. She and her daughter were behind schedule on this particular Wednesday. They were late because Mrs. Paul’s daughter had taken an afternoon nap and overslept. Oops!
Eighteen other members of the choir were late on this unique evening. All had valid excuses, but all were late. Ladona Vandegrit, a high school sophomore, was having trouble with her homework. Like Mrs. Paul and her daughter, Miss Vandegrift knew that practice began promptly at 7:30. She was typically one of the early arrivers, but this evening she was detained by a particularly baffling geometry lesson. Add Royena Estes and her sister to this list of tardy arrivers. They were ready to leave on time, but their car wouldn’t start. So, the two sisters called our previously mentioned Miss Vandegrit for a ride. Remember, she was held up with difficult math problems, so the Estes sisters had to wait. More choir members were held up as well.
There was Mrs. Schuster, who was detained at her mother’s house. She and her mother were preparing for a Missionary Meeting that would happen the next day. Herb Kipf was delayed at home as he was struggling with writing an important letter. This letter was one that he had been putting off for a long time. Having started the letter, he didn’t want to interrupt the composing and writing process. He justified his lateness by thinking it was best to finish this long-delayed letter first. Then there was Joyce Black, who was not known for being early, but who always arrived on time, except on this particular Wednesday. That day, a cold front had arrived, and Joyce was not excited about getting out in the cold weather. She stayed in her warm home and ventured into the cold at the last moment, hoping to arrive on time. She ended up being late.
Harvey Ahl would have been on time, but his wife was out of town - that left him in charge of their two young sons. A friend had invited Harvey and the two boys out for dinner. A pleasant conversation lasted longer than originally expected, and time got out of hand. Harvey would be late. Lucille Jones and Dorothy Wood were high school girls. They lived next door to each other. Lucille was listening to a half-hour radio program that began at 7 o’clock. She just had to hear how the program ended. Dorothy waited for her, and they arrived late. Pastor Klempel and his wife were always on time for choir practice - not on this evening, however. It seems that Pastor Klempel’s wristwatch (whose accuracy was legendary) was five minutes slow that night. The remaining members of the choir had equally valid excuses for their tardiness.
Excuses, excuses — eighteen in all. If you are asking why all this is relevant, here is the kicker: 7:30 that evening was the time a natural gas leak, coming from the basement of the church, was ignited by the furnace. The church blew up and was demolished. The explosion was violent enough that nearby houses had their windows blown out. The old furnace of the Beatrice, Nebraska church was directly beneath the choir loft. However, the choir loft was empty!
When I first heard this story, it was a lavish tale of coincidence. This might be true; it could be the most intricate story of quirky events ever heard. But to me, this story smacks of “Divine Providence.” Truth be told, God is at work in all of our lives. Little do we know of the fantastic things that God does each and every day. Colossians 1 shares a powerful truth about the working and power of God. Colossians 1:16-17: "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (NIV)
God is the creator and master of this universe. He, second by second, holds everything together. Romans 8:28 says, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Most people in this world have been brainwashed into believing that everything is the result of chance and that we are cosmic accidents. Such thinking is foolish and contrary to what God has clearly told us. I’m not saying that bad things can’t or won’t happen in this life. I am saying and reminding you that God is telling us, “I’ve got this, trust Me.” Keep looking up!